Wind Tunnel Test of NASA’s Most Powerful Rocket (360° Animation)

What are wind tunnels? And how do they help researchers design and test next-generation aircraft and spacecraft? This interactive 360° animation takes you inside the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. The facility is one of seven wind tunnels located at Ames for exploring the complex physics of flight.

The video features a four percent scale model of NASA’s most powerful rocket, the Space Launch System, or SLS. Two SLS models–one silver and one pink–appear in the video. The latter is coated with a special paint to track surface pressure readings during testing. Once built, the SLS rocket will be capable of sending astronauts on bold new missions into deep space.

More info: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/orgs/aeronautics/windtunnels/index.html

Video credit: NASA/Ames Research Center

This video can be downloaded from the NASA Image and Video Library at: https://images.nasa.gov/details-ARC-20180108-AAV3073-UPWT-360Shareable.html

NASA’s Ames Research Center is located in California’s Silicon Valley. Follow us on social media to hear about the latest developments in space, science, technology and aeronautics.